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Thread: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
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    Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    https://www.outsideonline.com/240124...miL9DDYRY_vL14
    Does Bear Spray Work?

    The science is clear, right? Not so fast, according to, well, science.

    Fact #1: Bear spray is 98 percent effective.
    Fact #2: Your odds of being injured by a bear while carrying a firearm are the same as if you’re carrying no defense at all.
    I’ve always taken the scientific studies that arrived at those two conclusions as gospel. And I’ve written articles repeating their findings while arriving at the invariable conclusion that bear spray is better than a firearm when it comes to defending against a bear attack. But you know what? I was wrong.
    “There was no thought of comparing the two [studies], though some do that,” says Tom Smith, who authored both reports, titled the “Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska” and “Efficacy of Firearms for Bear Deterrence in Alaska.”
    Yet many people—including me, obviously—have compared the results of those two studies. And that, according to Smith, was never his intention.
    ... more in the article

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Duncan
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    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    That was an interesting article, thanks for posting it.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    4,368

    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    Good read. I think the main take away is gun/spray defense statisics can be maniplutated to suit a desired conclusion, and there is no guranteed outcome in a bear attack regardless of what you have to protect yourself . To argue the contrary is moronic.

    I'll continue to carry my spray whenever I feel the situation merits it.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    Cedar B.C.
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    6,999

    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    Pepper is for AFTER the bear is dead and on the grill. I'll stick to my 540 gr bear spray. After years of bear hunting and some bear guiding I have learned my comfort zone is 25 yards not 10 ft so I'll take a projectile that doesn't dissipate in the wind or over 15', my "Holy Crap Cannon can do a lot of damage in those extra 60 ft.
    "BORN TO HUNT"
    Foxton's Cuervo Gold "KEELA" Oct. 2004-June 2017. Always in my blind and my heart.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
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    LML
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    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    They should just get some Pedophiles rounded up, arm them with bear spray, and put them in a pen with a grizzly. Thats the only way they could 100% confirm if it works or not. And if it doesn't the bear will eventually be fine

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
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    Central Interior of our beautiful british columbia.
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    6,340

    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    12ga, or 444 marlin, is 100% effective if target is hit appropriately, I have hard data on that! Moosin
    "A good day hunting is mud on your truck or blood on your hands"

    “Some people go to church and think about hunting……………others go hunting and think about God!”

    It's actually called the 375 "ouch and ouch"!!

    "Not asking for any spots or anything like that............................................"

  8. #7
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    126

    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    Bear spray can be effective but that all depends on the situation!
    The spray sure didn't stop this attack.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iTYDdmp_i4

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Posts
    823

    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    The wind is not always favourable to use bear spray.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Posts
    599

    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    Asolutely bear spray works. It’s not the answer for every situation but it certainly has its place. Most guys will sh*t their pants when faced with a charge and would be lucky to get more than a single shot off with a rifle.
    "The farther one gets into the wilderness, the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom."

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
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    LML
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    Re: Does Bear Spray Work? The science is clear, right? Not so fast...

    For hunters we have an option to carry a firearm but for hikers, bear spray is the only option other than taking precautionary measures

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